Victoria Travel Forum

IS THE INNER HARBOR LOCATED NEAR THE CRUISE SHIP TERMINAL. IS A TAXI NEEDED TO
GO FROM THE SHIP TERMINAL TO THE INNER HARBOR

What are the other places to see in & around Butchart garden apart from the Butterfly park ?

Moreover places to see on the way to Butchart garden from Swartz bay ferry terminal

Is there a practical way to get transportation to Swartz Bay B.C. Ferry terminal from Victoria? Would a taxi be cost effective, or is there a shuttle or bus transportation available in both directions (to and from Victoria)?

What is the most expeditous way to get from downtown Vancouver to Butchart Gardens (other than flying). It seems there is no way to avoid a 3.5 hr trip each way. If doing a day excursion, this leaves little time to actually see the gardens. any suggestions? Would you recommend a stay over in Victoria (we have a few days before heading north to Alaska).
Right now the best way seems to be the Vancouver Bus Terminal/PacificCoach -BC Ferry Term-Swartz Bay-local bus to Butchart.
Is there a better way???

We will be in Victoria this summer - 2 couples traveling together. Can anyone recommend a place to stay that will have 2 separate bedrooms and a living room joining them? We don't need a full kitchen, but 2 bathrooms would be ideal. Ideally we would like a 2 bedroom suite so we can have a "common room".
Thanks in advance for your help.

My wife and I are going to spend about four days in Victoria as part of a 7 night Vancouver/Victoria vacation package. We are staying at the Empress on Government street. What time of year is your favorite and why? We have a weekend available for Vancouver or Victoria. Which place would you prefer to spend a weekend? We don't want any on the water activities (sea sick issues) or extreme physical activities. This is going to be a relaxing, music, walking, visually stimulating, reasonably priced dining type of vacation. What are some of your suggestions along those lines? Any input is welcome. It will be our first time in this part of the world.

Can I purchase a gift certificate for "tea"? How much is tea per person?

My husband and i visited Victoria on our first overnight getaway five years ago. WE stayed at a fantastic B&B on a hillside above the harbor right next to a park. It had a contemporary style, approximately 4 rooms, was spacious, had a private hot tub in the room, and a shared hot tub on the deck. for the life of me i can not remember the name. I have been looking on line and can't locate it. Naturally i would ask my husband but i am attempting to plan a surprise birthday trip for him. Does this B&B sound familiar to anyone? please help. if not any suggestions would be appreciated. Ideal B&B clean lines, contemporary style, few rooms, private. thank you

Just wondering if any one has experience with any of the (many) whale watching tours out of Victoria? Any recommendations?

I am looking for microbrewery/brew pub recommendations in Victoria. Most
interested in sampling the best locally brewed beer in the area, love the gritty
places where you sit amongst the brewing equipment much more than the upscale
gastro-brew pub scene (we are there for the beer rather than the food!) Any
recommendations you would care to share?

I will be in Victoria from mid day Oct 4 till some time on Oct 4. I must meet a group in Vancouver in the evening on the 4th. I would love to keep costs down if possible (tea at a smaller place than the Empress and hopefully seeing whale(s) while on a ferry from Victoria to Vancouver). Would anyone know if this is possible or do I need to try a whale watchng tour??? Suggestions for tea??
I am also going to Buchard Gardens during one of the days. The tours seem to be only 2 - 2 and 1/2 hours. For such a huge garden and at my slow pace will that really be enough time to take it all in without tryng to race??? I'm a senior and racing is out of the question :) I will need a tour or public transportation as I will not have a car.
Thanks so much for your time and thoughts.

In downtown Victoria there are designated places to put posters. They look like a 55-gallon drum on a pole. Their purpose is to prevent people from trashing the lightposts, streetsigns and other fixtures.
I want to get some in my neighborhood here in southern California, and when I want to tell other people about them, a picture is worth the proverbial thousand words.

So I need a photo of one, preferrably with an uncluttered lightpost or sign in the background to demonstrate how they work.

Thanks,
-HB

Hi all,
I am taking a trip from Seattle to Victoria on a WA ferry. I am taking the route from Anacortes to Sydney and was wondering if it is difficult to take public transit from Sydney to Victoria. I have heard that the #70 bus route has been canceled. Thanks in advance.

Hi,
I will be in Victoria for 2 days and one night. We are taking the ferry from Vancouver.

I wanted to have do High Tea, and wonder what's the best place to do it?

Also, I would like to book a masssage or spa treatment, can someone recommend a good place? Is Magnolia Hotel a good spot? We are staying at that hotel.

Thanks a lot!

I wish know what do you think, dear VT members, is Gabriola Island worth seeing, or better Newcastle Island?

Can someone tell how does the immigration procedure work in Victoria?
I plan to take the Clipper Ferry from Seattle and wondering where the actual immigration inspection takes place. Do they stamp the passport?

Thanks

I will be in Seattle for a few days early June.
I'm trying to decide if it is worth a day trip to Victoria. I have been told going by sea plane is well worth the trip. But not sure if I will have enough time to see the city. Also would love to visit Buchart Gardens, is this difficult/time consuming to get to from Victoia?
I could go over by sea plane arriving at 9am, and return by ferry .. departing 5:30 or 7pm I think. That seemed to give the most time but would be an expensive exercise for just one day.
any advice would be much appreciated!

Hi, I am planning a trip to Victoria with my family and we are planning to stay in downtown Vancouver. We don't have hotel reservation yet but we want to see Victoria before we head back to Seattle, WA to catch the AMTRAK Train to San Francisco. What is the best way to get to Victoria and back and if you can give us some tips on how to go around tourist places and what transportation to use to go. Is AMTRAK bus station close by downtown Vancouver??? Any of your tips will be a big help to us. Thank you.

Hi

Can anyone verify if the Gray Line Grand City Drive tour operates in Feb?

It seems on some sites that it's only available from April, however, I am able to book it on Expedia.

My cruise ship is coming in for one evening this summer from 7:30-midnight. What would you suggest that I make sure my husband and I do while in Victoria for the evening? Basically, what shouldn't I miss if this is the ONE time I will be in Victoria? Thanks in advance for your help!

So, my mother is coming all the way from Australia to visit myself and my beloved. Since we celebrate Christmas on the 24th, and I am working that evening til 5:30pm, I won't have the energy to cook but would still like to have a lovely small family dinner out.

Does anyone have any ideas of a lovely place in Victoria for Christmas Eve dinner? I'm probably too late - most places must be booked out.


Thanks in advance!
Jitka

Is the Christmas Light up wed. December 5 between 4 and 5pm? Have a great day.

What's your favorite fish and chip restaurant in Victoria? I see that Barb's Fish n Chips is the #1 while in season (March - Oct). We'd like to go find a great traditional fish'n'chip shop this weekend (the kind where they wrap it up in newspaper).

Thanks!

help me find a kamono? a tradition japanese dressing gown to purchase

Hi, We are thinking for driving up from Portland, Oregon and leaving our car at Port Angeles to have less stress on a 3 day trip to victoria, (has anyone done this?) We are wondering if its easy to get around from the ferry terminal in Victoria? Are there taxis? Buses? running frequently? How far is it to downtown area...we are thinking of staying at the youth hostel..? any info would be helpful thanks!
happy travels!
Tara

My wife and I will be in Victoria in October for a conference. We have about 1 day of free time, and we were hoping to rent a car and see a bit more of Vancouver Island (giant trees and/or nice beaches, if possible). Is it possible to make a nice day trip (leaving in the morning and returning at night) either to Tofino, or Nanaimo, or Parksville, or some other nice location? Or would it be best to stay overnight somewhere? I am really not familiar with distances on the island, so any suggestions as to places to visit (and places to stay for one night), and as to driving times, would be much appreciated. Thank you!!

I'm only in town for two more weeks and trying to decide if I should visit Barb's. I've never been, but I've also heard the quality has taken a nosedive since they changed hands (about last September). Can anyone comment? I recently tried Red Fish Blue Fish and it was great- they just opened a kiosk on water level on Wharf, at the bottom of Broughton.

(PS - I make one or two exceptions annually to my "vegetarianism" when the fish and chips cravings become uncontrollable).

Hey guys.. me and few of my friends are thinking of going to Victoria for few days and here in USA you can go to a club if your 18 not the bar thoe, was just wondering is there any clubs in Victoria that you gotta be not 19 to go to? i am short few month.

We found an almost-to-good-to be-true deal: the Victoria Regent for 99 Canadian dollars + tax per night. Are there any really undesirable rooms ( next to the trash compactor, or next to a highway, etc ) ?
Any recommendations?

Thanks
-HB

Wife and I are looking at flying into Seattle, then traveling to Victoria without a car. We are looking at three options:
1) Bus to Port Arthur, ferry to Victoria.
2) Ferry from Seattle to Victoria.
3) Ferry from Bellingham ( not sure how to get there yet )

Any opinions on which is better?

Are the odds of seeing whales different? Do the busses have lots of legroom? Are we correct in assuming that we can get around Victoria without a car? How long a wait can we expect at either ferry on a weekday in October? What is a cheap, easy way to get from Seattle airport to Bellingham?

Thanks
-HB